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  1. 4 minutes to go in ET and it's 0-0. Been a pretty decent game. Flood missed a good chance at the start of the 2nd period of ET. Maybe he did it on purpose against his potential employers. End to end now, brilliant stuff! The last 2 minutes have been crazy. The dhims have hit the bar twice in the last couple of minutes.
  2. Dundee United face a battle to retain midfielder Willo Flood, who has been linked with Celtic. More...
  3. Aberdeen, Dundee Utd and Celtic! These 3 will be massive and decisive as to whether we can win the title or not! Minimum requirement has to be 7 points.
  4. I was never behind the decision to bring him back but gave him the chance to come good. he hasnt though and after spending almost 30 million we have a team with very little imagination or substance. Our squad is filled with run of the mill players that smith has backed his shirt on and they are failing us big time. Charlie adams selection today alone speaks volumes about smiths ability as Rangers manager. A serial underacheiver who brings nothing to the first eleven yet seen by our manager as a... well only smith knows the answer to that one. Whittaker and broadfoot, nothing more than squad players to us all but to smith...god only knows that one too. But the Icing on the cake has to be lafferty. At 3 million you would expect the guy to have at least the basic ball skills required to play football, but with every passing game you can see that the poor lad is well out of his depth. I almost cried when one of my worst nightmares cam to fruition today, Adam getting subbed for lafferty! But there lies the problem. Walter smith cannot see what everyman and his dog can see from the stands at Ibrox. There are far too many players at Ibrox that are simply not good enough to play for Rangers. Too make matters worse walter cannot see past these imposters who have us tearing out our hair. He constantly picks them though they have little impact on any game, more often than not dragging us down with them. The alarm bells for me started ringing for smith when we mugged Dundee utd for the league cup when boyd came on and saved his arse. from then on in the team slowly imploded in instalments failing to impress as the weeks went by. Unfortunately for those of us who could see what was happening there was an incredibly lucky run in the Uefa cup which papered over the cacks at home. All eyes where on Europe as far as the men upstairs where concerned. But Walter stuck by individuals who were constanly underacheiving in the side. Whittaker, Broadfoot, Cousin, Darcheville, Adam, McCulloch and Dailly never worried about their places but anyone with half a brain could see that they just werent good enough and that the writing was on the wall. But then we reached the Uefa cup final. You really thought smith would have a real go at winning it but no. He tries to win it on penalties instead. we all know what happened next. Yet again he left out guys Like Boyd and Novo for some of the above, which was smiths main problem. He tried every option other than these two and he failed miserably. So With the league and The Uefa cup up the swanny it was time to rebuild for next year, or so you would have thought. But no, Smith thought he could pull the same stunt in Europe again with his anti football tactics but was caught out at the first hurdle by a pub team manager from the back of beyond (again!). Enter the chairman and his cheque book and cue a panic buying spending spree. Yeah we bought decent players (whist yet again selling our biggest asset) but to be honest we have yet to see half of them. Where the hell are Aaron, Vilichka, edu and our very own wonder boy Fleck? bugger..im going on the piss now ill finish this later.
  5. STEVEN DAVIS believes there is more to come from both him and his team mates as they prepare to finish 2008 with two home games against Hibs and Celtic. Steven DavisDavis has arguably been Walter Smith's most consistent performer since signing a permanent deal with the club back in August. But he feels there is still another level for him to reach as he comes to the end of a rollercoaster first year with Rangers. He said: "Overall I'm happy with how things are going although I know there is still a lot of room for improvement both personally and for us as a team. "We've made a decent start to the season albeit with a couple of slip ups where we would have liked to collect points that we dropped. "If we can iron that out I think we can look forward to another very successful season. "I like to think there's more to come from me too. I think no matter what age you are you can still improve as a player. Steven Davis celebrates scoring"There are always new things to pick up from different managers and different players in the squad so it's been good to come here and learn from some top midfielders. "In Barry, Pedro and Kevin Thomson we have some top class players and if you can take different aspects from their games it can only help you develop as a player." The Northern Ireland international has added goals to his game this season and trails only Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller in the club's scoring charts after strikes against Motherwell, Dundee Utd, St Mirren and Hamilton. "This year we've all got a bit more licence to get forward with the way the team is playing this season," added Davis. "The change in the mentality of the whole team and the way the manager wants us to play has helped me get goals. "It's a side of the game I enjoy and hopefully I can continue to add a few goals between now and the end of the season."
  6. RANGERS enjoyed the perfect weekend last week when their crushing 7-1 victory over Hamilton was followed the day after by title rivals Celtic dropping points to Hibs at Easter Road. Kenny Miller celebrates his goal against HamiltonBut Kenny Miller insists any thoughts of the four point gap between the Old Firm being narrowed with the aid of other clubs is out of Rangers players' minds as they prepare for a tough trip to Tannadice this weekend. A victory against Dundee United in the early kick off on Saturday would narrow the gap to a single point ahead of Celtic's meeting with Hearts at 3pm, but Miller says his side are concentrating only on their own fixtures. He said: "Obviously it's a boost but we can only take care of our own games. The slip ups we've had are the reason we were seven points behind at one stage. "We just have to keep winning games and if Celtic slip up that's a bonus for us. Last week it was the perfect weekend for us with seven goals and a good performance and then the result on Sunday was a big boost for us. "It's another big weekend this week and if we can get the win in the early game it puts that wee bit of pressure on Celtic if the gap is down to a point." Kenny MillerMiller knows that this is another crunch weekend as Rangers aim to pick up maximum points in the run up to the December 27 Old Firm meeting. He said: "It's massive for us. There's no point in us winning 7-1 and seeing Celtic slip up if we don't then narrow the gap again. "We've got Dundee Utd away and then Hibs at home and they don't come much tougher than that. We have to win those games to go in to the Old Firm game a maximum of four points behind. "It's natural when you're in that position that you'll check what their result is to see if we've gained any ground but at the end of the day we can only look at ourselves and try to win games. "If the opposition slips up then that's obviously a boost for us. For us the next game is always the toughest one, it doesn't matter where it is. "Tomorrow's is a big game for us and we know we need to win these kind of games to go on the long winning runs you need to pick up titles." Miller's contribution to that title bid has been to weigh in with 7 goals and help his strike partner Kris Boyd to notch another 16. Their combination drew praise from the Gers No.9 who hailed Miller as his perfect front line foil, a feeling echoed by Miller. Kenny Miller and Kris BoydHe added:"I think the way it's been going it's definitely getting better. It takes a bit of time to form a partnership but we spent some together with the national side and we get on well off the park. "I think you're starting to see that on the pitch. It's been my most productive partnership, certainly over the last 6 or 7 games and there have been a lot of goals flying in - mostly for big Boydy! "I'm enjoying my football and we're playing some cracking stuff at the moment. Myself and Boydy rely on service from the midfield and that's been fantastic this season."
  7. I have never really been a Alan McGregor fan, but his heroics against Celtic in the 1-2 game at Parkhead and the Uefa cup performances won me over. I was dreadfully disapointed that he was injured saving the Scott Mcdonald penalty when he turned his ankle. Now, before those heroics McGregor was a mediocre goalie for the most part. He done the correct things to be a good Gers player, i.e go through the youth ranks, go on loan for a season for first team experince at a lesser club. And to be honest there are times he makes saves that make him look world class. But, i now think the time has come for him to move on. This may upset a few Gers fans as he is a popular player with Rangers fans. but he is now no longer a young player. He is a mid 20-odds goalie who's confidence has been sunk for a while. The mistake he made versus Dundee Utd at Ibrox cost us 2 vital league points. Today he apparantly made a howler(which i've yet to see). And against Kilmarnock at Ibrox he gifted them an opening goal. Don't get me wrong, three mistakes should't cost anyone a career. But i am positive now that there's a few other reasons to go against him. McGregor now believes the hype from last year still applies and as a consequence he stil thinks he is a better player than he really is. This over confidence clashing with his other belief that he thinks he's able to crack the English premiership is costing us dearly. The constant transfer speculation about him joining Spurs amongst other top teams is messing with this mans head. If he hadn't have gotten the ankle injury he may well have got the move i think he wanted and Rangers would have been payed around 5 to 6 million pounds. It didn't work out but McGregor to my mind is still thinking that all the speculation is directed towards where he is going. Well Alan, i'm not so sure that any top side would want you anymore, especially going by the clangers you've made and the current form you've displayed. Another thing that gets on my goat is his idiotic playboy image. The hype from last season appeared to inflate Alan's ego to extraordinary proportions and we saw him buying rediculous flash cars, get stupid tattoos and attempting to be the Scottish Beckham with that girlfriend of his. I realise that this view won't be everyones view and that many will disagree. But were it not for Walter Smiths loyalty to this player, we may well have had an even better goalie between the sticks in Neil Alexander(who is more than equal in technical and physical abilty to McGregor and supercedes McGregors mental ability by miles). Also the �£5/6m we may have got from McGregors transfer could have bought us a replacement for the aging Davie Weir and the sometime dodgy defence of Rangers could have squeezed the life out of sides resulting in us not being 7 points behind a Celtic side that are unbelieveably fluky. Anyway, i'd very much like to hear you guys opinion on Mr mcGregor as i'm sure we could move on without him.
  8. Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s second era at the club began with a match against Dundee United so it is perhaps fitting and not entirely unexpected, football often throws up strange and repeated coincidences such as this, that yet again the Arabs will provide the opposition in a monumental encounter that will go a long way to establishing our title credentials. The prospect of 4-in-a-row cannot be contemplated and if we are to prevent that eventuality then we have to stop the trend of our performances against Dundee United. Whilst our overall recent record does not make for terrible reading against Dundee United, indeed since the 5-0 victory in Walterââ?¬â?¢s debut game in charge of his second tenure, we have won 3, lost 1 and drawn 2 of our encounters with the Dundee club. However those two draws have been highly damaging to our league aspirations. Two league points dropped back in April during our hectic run in ultimately contributed to our downfall in attempting to reclaim the league flag. The second draw, our only meeting with United this season back in November allowed Celtic to take a 2 point lead in the SPL over us for the first time this season. It is the worrying trend of our inability to consistently take 3 points on the road against the more capable opponents in the SPL that is giving particular cause for concern prior to heading to Tannadice this weekend. After having returned the points difference to 4 between ourselves and Celtic this weekend past, we cannot afford anything less than a victory on Saturday. However we have not returned from Dundee with the 3 points since a 4-1 victory in April 06 when Prso and a Boyd hat-trick secured the result. In the last 4 seasons, stretching back to 04/05 under Eck, we have travelled to Dundee 6 times, but only once have we made the return trip with and addition to the win column. 1 win, 3 draws and 2 defeats highlights just how difficult a game we have in store. This kind of record is not good enough for a side with title aspirations and it is this sort of form that demonstrated why we have found league titles difficult to come by in recent seasons. Why one team becomes another sideââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Å?bogey teamââ?¬Â is difficult to pinpoint. When a team is regularly thwarting your side season after season, despite numerous changes in playing and coaching personnel for both sides, how do you identify the key factors? Is it luck? Is it a psychological problem? When you have struggled against another team in the past perhaps it is distracting you even before you take the field? It is impossible to quantify or qualify what causes this over a sustained period. What we can do though, is look at the reasons for our recent trouble. Why have so many of these competitive fixtures followed a similar pattern? In Smithââ?¬â?¢s first and highly successful spell at the helm we regularly dominated all opposition in Scotland. We had the players and the managerial set-up to mastermind victories against all opposition and in any scenario. Since his return to the club, many believe the old campaigner has been out-thought by his counter-part at Tannadice whenever the two lock-horns. Whilst Smithââ?¬â?¢s record against Leveinââ?¬â?¢s United makes reasonable reading, 4 wins, 2 draws with just the solitary defeat, it doesnââ?¬â?¢t even begin to tell the whole story In the League Cup Final, a match that was decided on penalties, only the introduction of Boyd saved Smithââ?¬â?¢s blushes as we were out thought and out played for large portions of the game. In the league encounter a month later, 3 times we had to come from behind to secure what at the time looked a decent point in the title run-in, to continue a fairly miserable run of form up Tannadice. We will of course all remember the 3-3 draw earlier this season when the influential Thomson stole a point in a game we should have won handsomely. What has become the stingiest back line in the league this year simply did not turn up that cold autumn night and despite an impressive attacking display, defensive lapses cost us the points. So Smith has an acceptable record against Dundee United overall, however it is one we would all like to see improve. To begin that with a vital victory this weekend would no doubt boost the confidence of our squad during a critical period in the Championship race. If we are to gain the required result, Smith, his coaching staff and the squad must look back at previous fixtures to understand why we struggled and to ensure we are better prepared. The major issue surrounding what is often a fraught fixture for us Rangers fans is in controlling the game. Win the midfield battle and that can set the platform to win the match. We cannot surrender quality possession and territory to Dundee United time and again, and hope to sneak a result thanks to individual quality on our part and individual error on Unitedââ?¬â?¢s. As many other SPL managers appear to be becoming aware of, if they flood their midfield with players and restrict our quality midfielders the time and space they need to operate they can effectively stop us playing. The team then resorts to long ball tactics, up to players whose strengths are not playing as target men. When this starts happening we continually give possession back to the opposition and put ourselves under pressure. This tactic is more rewarding for Dundee United than many other sides because of the quality of player they can deploy in midfield. Willo Flood, on loan from Cardiff City, always appears a step above anything else we might expect from opposition in the SPL out with Celtic. Flood is ably supported by a previously unavailable wealth of midfield talent in Morgaro Gomis, Prince Buaben (excellent finds for Craig Levein who combine good technical ability with natural athleticism) and formerly Mark Kerr (now Aberdeen). Scott Robertson brought in to replace the departing Kerr, from city rivals Dundee, has become a key player making a significant impact at Ibrox as he scored their third of 3 goals. Flood, Gomis and Robertson appear to be the players in favour for a strong United midfield, with Conway and Swanson enjoying regular games too. Levein has often deployed a 4-4-2 formation this season, but it will be interesting to see if he reverts to a five-man midfield again this weekend to give his side the numerical advantage in the centre of the park. Even prior to losing Thomson to long term injury this season, Dundee United have already proven they have enough in their ranks to give us a hard game. Although in a change from recent encounters, our troubles were not caused by Dundee Unitedââ?¬â?¢s strength in the middle of the park but by our own defensive frailties and an impressive game by Sandaza. With Unitedââ?¬â?¢s ability to nullify and dominate our midfield identified, the loss of Thomson is even more concerning for this game than any other. Our current first choice midfield of Ferguson, Mendes, Davis and possibly Beasley is lacking the fighting qualities and the screening of the defence that Thomson brings. With Levein likely to pack his midfield and the hardworking and technically gifted talents of Flood, Gomis, Robertson and co. we are going to have to battle hard for the points this weekend. It may require Walter to consider bringing in a more defensively minded player, in the Thomson mould, to combat the effective United midfield unit and allow the flair players to hurt the opposition. That would mean bringing in Edu either for Ferguson or Mendes, or sacrificing a forward player to field a 5 man midfield and match United in the central areas. However the prospect of breaking up what is a burgeoning and exciting forward pair of Boyd and Miller would be counter-productive and will not be considered by Smith. Neither will sacrificing the attacking qualities of Ferguson and Mendes. Instead I think he may ask for a disciplined display by one of the midfield pair, most likely Ferguson, to sit in and fill the defensive role performed by Thomson. Whether this will be effective is yet to be seen, but I am not convinced. If, as we have seen before, United manage to dominate this midfield battle, we begin to see why United have enjoyed such impressive displays against the more celebrated opposition from Glasgow. With a lack of control of the midfield, the defenders and deep lying midfield continually look to hit the long ball to Boyd and his partner, in this case likely to be Miller. Neither player can play as a dominant target man and with the towering figures of Wilkie and Dods at the back, will prove even more ineffectual in the role. Dundee United have enjoyed a stranglehold on possession and territory thanks to these tactics and more of the same will be uncomfortable viewing for the light blues this weekend. If Dundee United control the centre of the field and Wilkie and Dods continue their success at the back, then Craig Levein has unearthed the man to hurt us. In a devastating 2 goal display at Ibrox, Sandaza along with a solo strike by Robertson almost secured an impressive victory for the Arabs. Plucked from Valenciaââ?¬â?¢s reserve team, Sandaza made a decent start to life in Scotland in Unitedââ?¬â?¢s pre-season games. However he struggled once the competitive matches got underway until the boost of an accomplished display in Glasgow. In a game where unlike recent showing, United struggled to contain Rangers, Sandaza took full advantage of a night off at the back. Having regained third place in the league and with the best home defensive record in the league, if Flood and the Dundee United midfield continue to outshine their Rangers counterparts, they will be confident of the backline defending the inevitable long ball football and also of taking advantage of the lionââ?¬â?¢s share of possession with Sandaza and most probably Jon Daly to seize upon any opportunities created.
  9. Right now the SPL title does not make happy viewing for us. After an impressive start to the domestic season, including the 4-2 win at Parkhead in the opening Old Firm game of this season, we still find ourselves trailing Celtic by 4 points thanks to a series of disappointing dropped points. A substandard performance at Love Street lead to 3 points dropped. This was closely followed by one of the games of the season in a 3-3 draw with Dundee United in which an uncharacteristically generous display by the back line led to further 2 more dropped points, with the same outcome at Fir Park the following midweek. With a less hectic fixture schedule to navigate this season, Smith must ensure that we avoid any more of these slip ups if we are to regain our league title. With Smith's record against our greatest rivals being almost as good as it was during his first reign, if we are to take advantage of the next Old Firm game being at Ibrox and cut the deficit by 3 points (as we have every right to expect) then we need to ensure no more lapses in form and concentration in the 4 fixtures between now and that December the 27th clash. It is by no means an easy run of games. First up is Hearts at Tynecastle this week and as ascender's preview shows, a win there is by no means a foregone conclusion. We ran out 2-0 winners in the reverse fixture this season, but the points were only secured by an injury time Kris Boyd penalty. On top of our game we should leave Gorgie to take the 3 points back across the M8, but our players will need to produce a disciplined and clinical display. Next up are Hamilton and the squad should be confident of emerging victorious after back to back wins over the Lanarkshire club in October. A tricky away trip to Tannadice will be next up and seeing as Dundee United were the first club to leave Ibrox with anything other than a defeat since October of last year it is clear we will need to produce our best form to secure the points and maintain our push for the title. Our midfield has struggled to dominate games against the Arabs over the last year and a half and Ferguson and Mendes will have to produce a more cohesive display at Tannadice if we are to defeat what is becoming a routinely difficult encounter for Smith's squad. In the penultimate game before the key Old Firm clash, the final fixture of 2008, Hibs are the visitors to Ibrox. Hibs recent form has been up and down, but after thumping last year's third placed side Motherwell 4-1 away from home, it is obvious they have the players to trouble any side on their day. No disrespect to bottom club Hamilton, but aside from the home fixture against Billy Reid's side, you would not consider any of the other matches as a banker victory. If we are to ensure we are in position to take advantage of the Old Firm encounter we will have to earn every victory between now and the festive fixture. Celtic's corresponding fixtures over the same period appear a little less treacherous to negotiate. Allied to their 11 game winning streak, their last dropped points being inflicted in the 4-2 Old Firm humiliation and the importance of the next 4 fixtures becomes clear. It is hard to see anything other than a home victory this weekend as ICT make the long journey south. Though the Highland club have taken maximum points from the last 2 away fixtures, Celtic at Parkhead are a different proposition, especially when you cannot account for impartiality from the officials. Celtic begin December with a visit from Hibs, and as I have stated Hibs can trouble anyone on their day. They will fancy their chances more at their own place against Celtic than when they have to make the trip to Glasgow to face Rangers at Ibrox. Celtic have the minor inconvenience of a dead rubber against Villarreal to try and restore some pride from their catastrophic Champions League adventure before Hearts travel to Parkhead. In a reverse to the Hibs fixtures over the next month or so, whilst Celtic get to entertain Hearts at home whilst we make the journey to Edinburgh and I would argue that an going to Tynecastle is a tougher fixture than travelling to Easter Road, as supported by the club's league positions. Celtic round off their pre-Christmas fixtures with a trip to Falkirk and will be confident of returning to Glasgow with the spoils. Whilst both sides have tricky trips to the capital to deal with the added menace of an away clash against Dundee Utd suggests we have the more perilous fixtures. Considering Celtic's ominous form in the league and relatively easier fixtures, Smith cannot contemplate any more dropped points between now and the crunch clash on the 27th. Four victories and a 2nd Old Firm victory of the season and we may just find out how this Celtic team copes with the pressure of a Rangers juggernaut intent on winning a 52nd title.
  10. I have 2 tickets available for the Dundee Utd game next week. Unfortunately I can't make it. PM if you are interested. First come, first served.
  11. Dundee Utd's Craig Levein hits out at Scottish FA president George Peat for accusing managers of blaming referees to deflect attention from their own shortcomings. More...
  12. ...Why do we keep dropping daft points when on paper we have a better side than celtic and they were in europe(which is supposed to have you dropping some points in your own domestic league due to tiredness), yet we have over a week to plan games tactically and get fit for them and we are dropping more points than celtic? This is driving me mad this season. Darcheville even said that we should win the league this year because Celtics euro run will make them take their eye off the league. So, i ask you JCD if thats your mentality then why are we now 7 points behind them the week they bow out of europe? I think most people thought that we would have been able to plan a relaxed raid on the league this year because we had a limited number of games to play compared to celtic, but it's not worked this way and i wonder if the players and management of Rangers are to blame for expecting celtic to drop points and as a result going into games complacently. If thats the case then we need to axe the whole (so-called second coming) of Walter Smith's coaching staff(him included). This comes from a Big Walter fan who has up till now always backed him against any kind of criticism. But recently it has been totally unforgivable to drop league points against the pish of StMirren and Hearts. Dundee Utd are our bogey side, so that was maybe excusable, but none others were. So, whats fundamentaly wrong with our set up this time? We have had four seasons to plan the downfall of Celtic, and bar a few wins in the league against them, we havent even come that close to be honest. Last season was the closest but we used europe as an excuse to make ourselves feel better when all we had to do was defend for another 2 minutes in the first of the two league games at parkhead at the end of last season. Sounds easy now but we all know now we werent up to it as celtic always showed more spirit and need for the title. To finish on what will probably seem a daft point too. It just seems to me that everytime we play an away side they seem to be so up for it. Yet when Celtic play them they seem as though they lie back. Dont want to sound paranoid but it's so frustrating to watch Hearts and StMirren play like men possessed against Rangers and then play like pussies against Celtic. I'd love to hear your theories on why we are pish when we shouldnt be. signed frustrated bear
  13. In the last few weeks we have drew with Motherwell, Dundee Utd and Lost to Hearts! That is hardly form that will win us the league that is a MUST this season. WS selections and tactics are being found out that he isnt capable over a season anymore. Celtic are going to the places like Tynecastle and Fir Park and winning yet we are getting it so wrong. Also we can see a gulf in class between our team when we play the poorer sides in the SPL like St Mirren / Hamilton etc compared to when we play the likes of Hearts away. Ive been on the anti Boyd bandwagon for a long time yet since not getting a game for Scotland and going on a sulk his game changes against Kilmarnock and Hamilton x 2. And im now at the final conclusion of - Wow - Thats his level after all. WS takes most of the blame. But I continually say that having the likes of Burke, Boyd, Adam, Broadfoot, Whittaker in the Rangers FC team means we wont be top of the ladder. I honestly cant beleive a proven failure like Burke gets a nod ahead of Novo and the promising Aaron in the game today! Never mind even why the classy Hemdani continues to play more football in his garden than for Rangers.
  14. Review of the Season so far: Main site link: http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=711&Itemid=1
  15. This was the original squad according to the BBC: Obviously Miller, D Fletcher, S Fletcher, Gordon, McCormack and Morrison have dropped out with just Robertson (Dundee Utd) and Miller (Aberdeen) called up. So who would you start, and if you're really adventurous you can try and guess who Burley will pick. I think he'll go for: McGregor Broadfoot McManus Caldwell Naysmith Brown Ferguson Hartley Robson Iwelumo McFadden Not exactly inspiring is it? Could do with a decent CB in there. A new LB is needed. Burley insisted on playing basically the entire Celtic midfield in the next game after they got destroyed at Parkhead by our midfield. Having a fit Thomson in beside to beef up the midfield would've been nice. We could drop Hartley then, who is hopeless. Oh to have Kris Boyd upfront. But have no fear, Iwelumo is available. He may well play with 5 in midfield though, drop Iwelumo and put Maloney wide left with Robson playing more centrally.
  16. Given that we entertain our friends from the North East at Ibrox this weekend, I thought that it may be a good time to examine the intense rivalry that this fixture generates, both in the present day and in the bygone days of yore. Generally, I believe that since the nineties, we have (and the OF in general) have left Aberdeen in our shadow and for this Bear, the intensity of this game has dropped several notches. Don’t get me wrong, I still lookout for this fixture and still enjoy the passion that it generates and it still gives me an extra pleasure defeating the Dons (almost as pleasant as defeating the MOPES). I believe that most Rangers fans will share this opinion and would believe that the rivalry is fast becoming a ‘one-way street’. Sections of the Aberdeen fans still look at us as the ‘hated enemy’, the one team that they want to be victorious over every time they play us. In fact, they still sing to the MOPES : ‘We Hate Rangers More than You’. Was this rivalry always as one sided? You bet it wasn’t. When I first started attending Rangers games regularly, the New Firm of Aberdeen and Dundee UTD were the ‘teams to beat’ and were ahead (footballing wise) of the Old Firm. Given this, they would regularly defeat Rangers both home and away. Trips to Tannidice were never fraught with danger, they never generated a poisonous atmosphere, they were just normal run of the mill games. In fact, in the early 80’s the same could be said of trips to Pittodrie. This fixture would see Rangers supporters clubs travelling up to Aberdeen and staying over in or around the city and enjoying a Saturday night out on the town. Everything in the Aberdeen garden was rosy around this time, they were the top dogs and whilst they were rubbing our noses in it on the pitch, they appeared to at least tolerate us, if not welcome us, into their city prior and post match. Now, like any city centre on a Saturday night, there were a few scuffles as drunk fans clashed with locals, a few full blown fights would also be witnessed, but like I said, this was true of all town centres at the weekends. It has to be pointed out here, and in no way am I condoning the violence, but there were ‘fist fights’ that were generally over before they begun. So what happened to change this situation? Some people point to the Durrant / Simpson incident (it certainly didn’t help matters). Some (especially Aberdeen fans) point to an incident where Willie (Bud) Johnston appeared to stand on the neck of an Aberdeen player (John McMaster if my memory serves me correctly). Some will point to the birth of the much maligned (and blamed for almost all football related violence) the football casuals. Some will also remember and point to the violent scenes during and after the Rangers v Aberdeen game at Ibrox in 1985-1986 were Aberdeen won 3-0 and two Rangers players were sent off. During the game, Rangers fans from the East Enclosure invaded the pitch and after the game, I witnessed the 2nd worst example of violence I have ever encountered at a game. The Rangers fans streamed out Ibrox before fulltime and a large number gathered behind the Broomie where the Aberdeen fans were housed and as soon as they were released, the gathered Rangers fans steamed in and gave them what can only be described as a ‘good seeing to’. Again, I am not condoning this violence, but it is an example of how intense this rivalry was. The pitch invasion can be viewed here [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUkUSDLH45k&feature=related]YouTube - Ibrox pitch invasion 1985[/ame] In truth, the rivalry had been building over the years and all of the above played their part in perpetrating this rivalry, but it was to at its most intense after a certain Mr David Holmes brought in a certain Mr Graeme Souness as Rangers manager. This bold decision changed the face of Scottish Football and the sleeping giant that was Rangers FC was finally awakened. We were no longer 3rd or 4th best, we were back where we belonged. Normal service had been restored. We all know that we finally won our first league title in a decade when we secured a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie – this coupled with Celtc’s shock 2-1 home defeat by Falkirk – meant Rangers were CHAMPIONS. The game is famous for so many things – Butchers goal, Souness’ red card and the jubilant scenes after the game. Personally, I’ll never forget this day as long as I live. Not just for the above, but for the generosity of a few Aberdeen fans (yip, you’ve read that correctly). Four of us had gone up to the game and only I had a ticket. The other three couldn’t get a ticket prior to the game, so I sold mine (face value) to another Bear and me and my 3 mates trudged to a ‘carry-out’ shop to get some beer and trudge to the hill that overlooks Pittodrie. There were hundreds of Rangers fans up there and a wee party ensued. If you watch the footage below of the game, wee Durranty wheels away after the goal and ‘celebrates’ the goal with those up on the hill (or so we’d like to think). Anyway, at halftime, all those of the hill walked down to Pittodrie and joined forces with hundreds of other fans at the Aberdeen end trying to negotiate entry! The Police were actually OK as they told us that they would allow us access to the ground if and when Rangers won the league. They would hold us there and allow us access when the Aberdeen fans had left. As they were conveying this, a door was being opened to allow more Police to leave the ground and ‘watch’ those gathered around the Aberdeen end. The Rangers fans saw their opportunity, and charged the gate. The sheer numbers forced the gate open and we ran into the stadium with the Police giving chase. I was helped up into the stand and was sat amongst the Aberdeen fans by two elderly ‘Dons’. Thanks to them, I and my 3 friends witnessed the majority of the 2nd half and the celebrations in their entirety : [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPkaTZ_qT24]YouTube - Aberdeen v Rangers (2 May 1987) - 1/3[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LD7giiV-aM&feature=related]YouTube - Aberdeen v Rangers (2 May 1987) - 2/3[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LD7giiV-aM&feature=related]YouTube - Aberdeen v Rangers (2 May 1987) - 3/3[/ame] During the early 90’s Rangers were in the infancy stages of what would turn out to be out 9-in-a-row era and whilst Celtc were self-destructing on and off the field, Aberdeen became our main on and off the field rivals. This saw some titanic battles not only in the league, but in both domestic cup competitions - none more so that the two fantastic league cup games that ended 3-2 to Rangers and a Rangers penalty shoot-out victory after a brilliant 3-3 draw. Rangers fans of my generation and older will also remember the game that won us the league in 1990-1991 – Aberdeen came into the final game of the season ahead of Rangers on points (we had just lost 3-0 to Motherwell the previous week) and had to endure the loss of our captain Terry Butcher and our manager Graeme Souness earlier in the season. Walter Smith was the man appointed by David Murray to ensure that we secured our 3rd consecutive title. Given the slip up at Motherwell the week before, this wasn’t a formality. Aberdeen went into the game needing just a point. Rangers went into the game with injury worries and these increased during the game and Tom Cowan actually played part of the game with a broken leg. Nigal Spackman captained the team to a wonderful 2-0 victory with the much maligned Mark Hateley scoring both goals. His opener was a joy to behold. Mark Walters swung in a beautiful cross and Hateley rose magesitcally to rise above Alex McLeish and slam an unstoppable header into the roof of the net – cue bedlum around Ibrox.
  17. that i was fan of the week in the programme against dundee utd! they must be getting desperate for punters!
  18. http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=692&Itemid=1 Davis again last night for me...
  19. Rangers can go top of the Scottish Premier League with a win over Dundee United at Ibrox. More...
  20. As there is no Rangers related football to discuss as the Dundee UTD game was (rightly) called off due to the sad death of their Chairman Eddie Thompson I was going to, surprisingly perhaps, direct my weekly rants exclusively at Walter Smith. Firstly for his cowardly and ill informed comments regarding internet bigots, but bmck and Calscot not only beat me to it, but penned far more eloquent articles that I could ever muster : http://www.gersnetonline.net/vb/showthread.php?t=8519 http://www.gersnetonline.net/vb/showthread.php?t=8511 However, Uncle Walter doesn’t escape my attentions thanks to those excellent articles, I have a tantalising question to set you regarding Walter : If We Had A Theo Walcott, Would We Witness Is Wonder? Over the course of this season, nobody who has witnessed the mercurial skills of Theo Walcott could fail to marvel at the guile and genius of this young and raw talent. Walcott has not only starred for Arsenal, but has burst onto the international stage and set England on their way to automatic World Cup qualification thanks to brilliant displays and fantastic goals. I watching in wonder last night as a youthful Arsenal put Fenerbache to the sword in their own back yard and Walcott was at the centre of everything that was good about Arsenal. It is easy to forget just how young this lad is and his tender age can be used as an excuse (if any are needed) for when his form, inevitably falls a few percentage. So, this question that I’d like to pose is, if Rangers had a ‘Theo Walcott’, would Walter Smith play him in the starting 11 – not just in the mediocre SPL, but in European games? Now, I understand that Wlacott is a ‘one off’, the best talent to come out of England since Wayne Rooney, and don’t think for a minute that we have anyone on our books with the talent that Walcott processes. However, we might have, as when was the last time a ‘youth’ player was given an extended run in our team? I’d guess at Alan Hutton who as soon as he showed any sign of ability, was swiftly dispatched to White Hart Lane. The only young players currently that are being ‘talked up’ at Ibrox are / were John Fleck, Dean Furman and Aaron. Furman has gone on lone and the remaining pair are semi-permanent fixtures on our substitute bench. From the admittedly little that I have seen of the above trio, Fleck is without a doubt the most gifted and hopefully likely to cement a place in the Rangers team in the near future. Fleck was introduced into the dieing embers of last years Scottish Cup Final and along with the return of Beasley, Flecks fleeting appearance was the highlight of that day. Simply put, he didn’t look out of place. I don’t think I was the only Rangers fan who left Hampden that day convinced that I would see a lot more of Fleck this season. Sadly, me and a few others have been left disappointed. Given Walters record at Rangers, he doesn’t appear to be the type of manager to bring youth players into the team and give them an extended run. During the 9-in-a-row years, we saw glimpses of players like Sandy Robertson, Gary McSwegen, Stephen Pressley, Neil Murray et al who contributed to some fantastic Rangers performances both domestically and in Europe, but none were given extended runs in the team. So people, I am convinced that we have or own ‘Theo Walcott’ (in context) sitting at Murray Park but remain unconvinced that we’ll see him get an extend run in the first 11 – much to his, and our detriment. Green With Envy Yip, I’ll admit to being green with envy as I sat down last night to be entertained by Europe’s finest in the Champions League, and I’ll be just as envious as I settle down in front of the TV tonight. I’ll also admit that I am envious of our green foes participation in the CL, and yes, even given their drubbing last night, I am still a little envious of them. In fact, I’m even a tad envious of their 1 point from 50+ available away from home – Christ that’s what you call consistency (ok, ok, ok, that was a big tongue in cheek)…… There is nothing better than an European night, especially at Ibrox, or when you enjoy a fantastic trip to a foreign land. I think we’ve all got stories to tell of our expeditions and of the friends that we’ve made on our travels, both within the travelling Rangers support and friendly locals. For long-term GersNet readers this next statement will come as no surprise, but to newer readers and ‘younger’ Bears it might. Whilst I have no ‘love’ of Manchester United, I do not hold any hatred for them either. I, for a while, took delivery of Man United fanzines (some of the best zines around). I applauded and continue to applaud the Man United fans fight for their club (something we could learn from). I met a fair few Man United fans when I was down for our CL game, and every last one of them were fantastic company and the one thing that I noticed was their burning love for their club – in that respect, they reminded me of US, the Rangers support. For them, its Man U first and Man U last – they have no time for ‘2nd teams’ and no time for ‘love-ins’. Lastly, I believe that we have much in common with Manchester United. Both our clubs are deemed the most successful in our respective countries (although Liverpool would have something to say on that matter), both clubs have overcome terrible disaster and tragedy in their long and illustrious history. Both clubs are ‘hated’ in their own country due to their dominance and both clubs draw fantastic support from out-with the city and country that they belong to. So, its fair to say that I have no qualms regarding Manchester United or their fans. Some Rangers fans will point to the supposed love-in between Man United and Celtc – lets get this straight, this is a one-way street. If you read any Man United fanzines or books written by fans (or their casuals) you’ll understand that they don’t like Timmy at all. Why would they? Timmy sing a Liverpool anthem and sing songs about a terrorist group who targeted Manchester killing citizens and destroying the city. Also, it is worth noting that Manchester United pull a large section of their fanbase from the loyalist and unionist communities of Northern Ireland. Anyway, apologies for digressing, back to the point in hand. At this stage next season, I don’t want to be a mere spectator when the business end of the Champions League comes around. I want Rangers in their and fighting for the right to progress to the knock-out stages of this prestigious tournament. However, after watching some of the awesome performances last night, we have a vast amount of improving to ensure that we can compete annually at this level. To make CL qualification assured we must win the SPL title this year and that is not a formality or a foregone conclusion. Oh, I’ve added a clip from the infamous ‘you-tube’ site (you know, the one UEFA and the media use to try us) of what can only be described as an altercation outside Old Trafford last night – not much love on show here : [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bo3C4FoJ0Mk[/ame] Know Your Enemy At the moment, being a Rangers fan, especially one who uses the internet to discuss his team and on occasions, history, politics and religion, it isn’t hard knowing who your enemy is. However, until recently, you wouldn’t have put the manager of your team into the enemy camp. Some of us understand that the Chairman and his lap-dog Bain are well entrenched in the enemy camp and like nothing more than feeding the frenzied media with ‘own goals’ and attacks on Rangers fans. Walter Smith has decided to pitch in with SDM and Bain and thus, must accept the ire that will be directed at him. Now he has opened himself up for criticism relating to topics out-with squad selection, signings and tactics. He has entered the big, bad bigoted Rangers fans debate and hang his colours to the ‘establishments’ mast. I can take the agenda driven media having a go at me (as I don’t except anything else, it goes with territory). I can take agenda driven politicians having a go at me (as I don’t except anything else, it goes with territory). I can take agenda driven organisations like NMB having a go at me (as I don’t except anything else, it goes with territory). It may hurt me to the core, it might drive me to despair, but I can take SDM and Bain having a go at me (as I don’t except anything else, it goes with territory). But I’m sorry Walter, I expected better from you. Cammy F -
  21. I'm away to Italy tomorrow with the family for a holiday, going to Sorrento ( i think ) Anyway take care all and speak when i'm back, gutted that i had to sell my ticket to my mate, but will find a wee bar to watch it in with a few pints. COME ON SCOTLAND Will be back for the Dundee Utd game and hopefully we get 3 points in that. See ya
  22. Dundee United chairman, Eddie Thompson, passed away this morning. May I be the first to offer the condolences on behalf of Gersnet throughout the world to the Thompson family on what has already been a very tragic week. RIP
  23. 0-0 at half time. Pretty even, Utd had a half shout for a pen with VoH all over Wilkie.
  24. Hamilton 3 Dundee Utd 1 what a result for the accies my wee home town just wanted to say great result for there 1st game and hope they do well in the spl. Hamilton Inverness Hearts Celtic Kilmarnock Rangers Motherwell Falkirk Hibernian St Mirren Dundee Utd Aberdeen accies top of the league prob no see that again
  25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/7527242.stm 5-1 over Dundee Utd and 6-0 over Hibs.
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